Tingxiao Huo

In an epic tale of theater, gender, love and class, two Beijing opera actors navigate political turmoil as their friendship evolves over decades.

During China's Warring States period, a district prefect arrives at the palace of Qin Shi Huang, claiming to have killed the three assassins who had made an attempt on the king's life three years ago.

During China's Tang dynasty the emperor has taken the princess of a neighboring province as his wife. She has borne him two sons and raised his eldest. Now his control over his dominion is complete, including the royal family itself.

In 9th century China, a corrupt government wages war against a rebel army called the Flying Daggers. A romantic warrior breaks a beautiful rebel out of prison to help her rejoin her fellows, but things are not what they seem.

Su Qi-Er, a wealthy man living during the Qing Dynasty who loses his fortune and reputation as a result of a conspiracy against him. After being forced out onto the streets, Su dedicates his life to martial arts and reemerges as a patriotic hero known as the "King of Beggars."

Released from jail, Lang returns to his hometown in Northwest China. As part of a dog patrol tasked with clearing stray dogs before the 2008 Olympics, he bonds with a black stray. The two lonely souls embark on a new journey together.

This anthology drama presents four short films honoring Chinese families, spotlighting the struggles of key groups across four pivotal eras: the revolution, construction, reform and opening up, and the new era, while highlighting their perseverance, dedication to ideals, and commitment to passing on the national spirit through generations.

The film focuses on an epic battle in the history of China's War of Resistance against Japan, which shocked the world with its overwhelming force against a small enemy. In the 1944 Hengyang defense battle, the 10th Army of the Chinese front battlefield, with a force of less than 18,000 people, defended the city alone against the Japanese army with a total strength of 110,000 people outside the city for 47 days. The Chinese army suffered more than 16,000 casualties and the Japanese army suffered more than 48,000 casualties, creating the only record of the comparison of enemy and our forces and casualties since the War of Resistance. It dealt a heavy blow to the Japanese army's No. 1 operation launched by the Japanese headquarters and became a battle case comparable to any battle in World War II.